Hydraulic lift for dozer blade



Oct 25, 1955 A. J. JocHER ETAL 3,214,138

HYDRAULIC LIFT FOR DOZER BLADE Filed Dec. 23, 1963 United States Patent O 3,214,138 HYDRAULIC LIFT FOR DOZER BLADE Alfred J. Jocher, Lombard, and Herbert C. Glesmann, Naperville, Ill., assignors to International Harvester Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 332,670 Claims. (Cl. 254-124) The present invention relates generally to improvements in hydraulic lifting devices and the 4like and more particularly to la new and improved hydraulic lifting device to be mounted on a Vehicle for raising a scraper blade.

In the past, lifting mechanisms for dozer blades and the like included an arm pi-votally m-ounted on a supporting structure and a hydraulic jack connected at one end to the supported structure and at its other end to the pivoted arm. Upon extension of the hydraulic jack the pivoted arm would be rotated upwardly and thr-ough a connecting member the dozer blade would be lifted. Although such devices have served the purpose, they have not proved entire-ly satisfactory under all conditions of surface for the reason that when the vehicle upon which the dozer blade is mounted is also used for other purposes, it was often Afound necessary to remove the hydraulic lifting mechanism kfrom the vehicle to enable it to be used for other purposes. When hydraulic lifting mechanism was not removed, it often proved to be the cause of accidents land damage since it protrudes outwardly from the front end of the vehicle.

The general purpose of this invention is to provide Aa hydraulic lifter for dozer blades or the like which embraces all the ad-vantages .of similarly employed hydraulic lifters and .possesses none of the aforedescribed disadvantages. To obtain this the present invention contemplates utilizing a U-shaped channel member as the supporting structure and a second U-shaped `channel me-mber as the pivotable arm, and a hydraulic jack of such dimensions that lit can be stored in the hollow tube formed by the two IJ-shaped channel members when they are positioned Vto form 'a tube.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a hydraulic lifter for a dozer blade that is structurally sound during loperation and that can be compactly stored on the vehicle when no-t in use.

Another object is to provide a hydraulic lifter for a dozer blade that can be safely carried by 4the vehicle whether the dozer blade is being used or not.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a hydraulic lifter for a dozer blade that .can be carried on the vehicle when the dozer blade is not being used without distracting from the use of the vehicle for other purposes.

Still lanother object is to provide a hydraulic lifter tor a dozer blade that can be readily changed to a storage position without permanently disconnecting it from the vehicle and without the need of hand tools.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a hydraulic lifter for a dozer blade that can be changed to a safe storage position in which it forms its own protection against damage.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the specification and the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a hydraulic lit-ter mounted on the vehicle and functioning to lift a dozer blade;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the hydraulic lifter carried by a ve-hicle in storage position;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the hydraulic lifter taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

3,214,138 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 dice FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hydraulic lifter Itaken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the hydraulic lifter having portions broken away.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like Ior correspondent parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a vehicle designated 1 having ground-engaging wheels 2, a front bumper 3 and mounts 4. A dozer blade generally designated 10, includ-ing a m-o-ldboard 11, frame 1-2 and pivot .pins 13, is pivotally carried by the mounts 4 o-f the vehicle. The dozer blade may be of conventional design that will permit the moldboard to be positioned Iat a desired angle to the direction of travel.

The hydraulic lift generally designated 20 includes a iirst U-shaped channel member 21 that is mounted in a vertical direction with its groove opening in a direction facing the dozer blade. The channel member 211 is secured, .for example, by Welding to a base 22 which includes la pair of flan-ges 23 that are bent up and about the sides of said channel member 21. The edges of flanges :23 are secured by welding 24 to the sides of the channel member 21. As can Ibe best seen in FIGURE 5, the base 22 is secured to the vehicles bumper 3 by means such as bolts 25. A brace 26 is secured .as by bolts 27 to the rear of the channel member 21 and at its other end (not shown) lto the front cross member of the structural frame of the vehicle., rIhe U-shaped channel member 2'1 forms a groove designated 28 that opens in a direction facing the dozer blade 10. An aperture 29 is formed in the back of channel member 21 to permit passage o'f the hydraulic line 45 as can be best seen in FIGURE 5.

A second U-shaped channel member designated 31 having Ian overall width slightly smaller than the groove -28 formed by IU-sha-ped channel member 21 is pivotally connected by means 36 to the upper end of the U-shaped channel member 21. Channel member 31 is placed within the groove 28 of channel member 21 and member 31 is permitted to pivot relative to member 21 from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIGURE 5. When the U-shaped channel members 21 and 31 are in their relative position yas shown in FIG- U RES 2 and 3 together, they forma hol-low tube. A pair of aligned apertures 33 are formed in the flanges of channel member 31, a short distance below the point at which member 3'1 is pivotally connected to member 21. A pair of apertures 30 la-re `formed in the flanges of channel member 21 a like distance below the .point at which channel member 31 is pivotally connected to channel member 21. When channel members 21 and 3.1 are positioned as shown in FIGURES Zand 3, the apertures 30 and 33 are aligned. A removable pivot pin 47 can then be inserted through the laligned apertures 30 and 33 to prevent relative movement between channel members 21 and 31. A spring clip 4S is provided lto prevent the removal of pivot pin 47. A plurality of sets of apertures designated 34 are formed in the flanges of channel member 3|1 at points displaced from Vthe pivotal connection of channel member 31 to channel member 21. As shall be further discussed, lapertures 34 function to pivotally connect one end of the hydraulic jack 40 to channel member 31. At the free end of channel member 31 an aperture or :other means designated 35 is provided for receiving means illustrated here as .a chain S0 to connect channel member 31 to the dozer blade 10.

The hydraulic jack 40 includes a cylinder 41 that is connected by pivotal connection means 42 to the lower portion of the U-shaped channel member 21. The hydraulic jack 40 also includes a piston portion 43 terminating in an eye portion 44 that is connected through the removable pivot pin 47 Ito the U-shaped channel member 3&1. A hydraulic line 45 is connected to the cylinder portion 4'1 `of the hydraulic jack and extends through the aperture 29 in the back portion of the U-shaped channel 21, and then to a `source of hydraulic pressure (not shown).

When yopera-ting `the dozer blade, the hydraulic lift is at the position as .shown in FIGU RES l and 5. 11n this position the removable pivot pin 47 extends through one of the sets of apertures 34 and through the eye portion 44 yof the hydraulic jack. When hydraulic pressure is supplied to the hydraulic jack 40 through the line 45, the piston 43 is extended .tio pivot channel member 3'1 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGURES l and 5. This clockwise rotation of channel member 31 causes its free end to raise and through the connecting chain 50` -pivots the dezer blade about its pivot pins 13. Thus, by supplying hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic jack 40 the dozer blade can be raised over obstructions, its position relative to the ground can be adjusted, or it can be raised to a transporting position. The hydraulic jack disclosed herein is `of a single-acting type and gravity is relied upon for the downward movement of the dozer blade 10; However, it should be noted that a double-acting hydraulic jack could be used if so desired.

When it is not desired to use the dozer blade the connecting chain 50 is disconnected from the channel mem- Iber 311 and the main frame 12 of the dozer blade is disconnected from .the mounts 4 to remove the blade from the vehicle. lTo convert the hydraulic lift to its storage position, it is then necessary to merely pull the spring clip 48, remove the .pivot pin 47, pivot the hydraulic jack 40 upwardly to a vertical position, pivot the U- :shaped channel 31 downward-ly to a vertical position, insert the removable .pivot pin 47 through the aligned apertures 30 and I33 and the eye portion 44 and when reinsert the spring clip 48.

In the storage position, as Ibest seen in FIGURE 2, the vehicle is free from .dangerous protuberances and the front bumper yof the vehicle as vvell as the vertical mast formed by channels 211 .and 31 can be used, for, example, to push stalled automobiles. In the storage position the hydraulic jack 40 is completely encased by the U-shaped channels 2'1 and 131 within the tubular enclosure formed by said members. Thus, the hydraulic jack has a protective casing completely surrounding it.

"It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates only to a preferred embodiment olf the invention and that numerous modiiications or .alte-rations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims:

'What is claimed is:

.11. A hydraulic lift lfor a scraper blade comprising .a first U-slllaped channel member forming .a groove `of a given Width and including means for mounting said channel on a vehicle in a vertical direction with said .groove opening in .a .direction away from the vehicle, a second U-shaped channel member having a smaller outside width than the width of said groove so that said second U-shaped channel member can lie within the groove of said rst channel member, said second U-shaped channel member being positioned within the groove of said ii-rst U-shaped channel member .such .that the U-shaped members form a hollow tube, .mea-ns pivota-lly connecting the upper end of said first U-sh-aped :channel member to the adjacent free end of said second U-shaped channel member, a hydraulic jack having a diameter such that it will t within the hollow tube formed by said Uashaped channel members, said hydraulic Ijack being .pivotally connected at one end to the lower portion of said iirst U-shaped channel member and being adapted to be pivotally connected :at the other end to said second U-shaped channel member at a point displaced from its pivotal connection to said iirst U- shaped channel member and means fon the free end .of said second U-shaped channel .member to connect said hydraul-ic lift to a scraper blade.

2.. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein a removable pivot pin is provided `to connect the end of said hydraulic jack to said second U-shaped channel member and ywherein apertures are formed in said U-shaped .channel members that will be aligned and adapted to receive said removable pivot pin when the U-s-haped channel members are positioned to lform `a hollow tube to hold said U-shaped member in this position.

3. 'Ilhe invention as set for-th in claim 2 vvherein a spring clip is provided to lock said removable pivot pin in a desired position.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein means :are provided for pivotal-ly connecting said hydraulic jack to said second U-shaped channel member at a plurality of points displaced from its .pivotal connection to said first U-shaped channel member.

5. A hydraulic lift for `a scraper blade comprising a iirst U-shaped channel member forming 1a gro-ove of a given width and including mea-ns for mounting said channel on a vehicle in a. vertical direction with said groove opening in a direction away from the vehicle, a second WIJ-shaped channel member having a larger outside Width than the width of said groove s-o that said second U-s'haped channel member can cover said rst channel member, said second U-shaped channel member being positioned over said first U-shaped channel member such `that the U- shaped members form a hollow tube, means pivota'lly connecting the upper end of said first U-shaped channel member to the .adjacent ifree end of said second U-shaped channel member, a hydraulic jack having a diameter such that it will tit Within the hol-low tube formed by said U- shaped channel members, said hydraulic jack being pivotalaly connected at ione end to the lower portion of said lirst U-sh-aped channel member and being adapted to be pivotally connected at the other end to said second U- shaped channel member at a point displaced from its pivotal yconnection to `said 'first U-shaped channel member and means on the -free end of said second U-shaped chan- Ibildmember to connect said hydraulic lift to ya scraper ia e.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,005,511 'l0/611 Riedy 37-42 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HYDRAULIC LIFT FOR A SCRAPER BLADE COMPRISING A FIRST U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBER FORMING A GROOVE OF A GIVEN WIDTH AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID CHANNEL ON A VEHICLE IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION WITH SAID GROOVE OPENING IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, A SECOND U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBER HAVING A SMALLER OUTSIDE WIDTH THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID GROOVE SO THAT SAID SECOND U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBER CAN LIE WITHIN THE GROOVE OF SAID FIRST CHANNEL MEMBER, SAID SECOND U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBER BEING POSITIONED WITHIN THE GROOVE OF SAID FIRST U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBER SUCH THAT THE U-SHAPED MEMBERS FORM A HOLLOW TUBE, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE UPPER END OF SAID FIRST U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBER TO THE ADJACENT FREE END OF SAID SECOND U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBER, A HYDRAULIC JACK HAVING A DIAMETER SUCH THAT IT WILL FIT WITHIN THE HOLLOW TUBE FORMED BY SAID U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBERS, SAID HYDRAULIC JACK BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID FIRST U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBER AND BEING ADAPTED TO BE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT THE OTHER END TO SAID SECOND U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBER AT A POINT DISPLACED FROM ITS PIVOTAL CONNECTION TO SAID FIRST USHAPED CHANNEL MEMBER AND MEANS ON THE FREE END OF SAID SECOND U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBER TO CONNECT SAID HYDRAULIC LIFT TO A SCRAPER BLADE. 